Removal of Hawthorns contravention of district plan

The reported removal of three hawthorn trees on 25 October on a site on the Lower Shotover Road has been found in contravention, Lakes Environmental Limited chief executive Hamish Dobbie said.


“After a complaint from a member of the public Lakes Environmental has been investigating the removal of a section of hedgerow to allow for heavy vehicle access to remove a woolshed from land owned by Hawthorn Estate Limited,” Mr Dobbie said.


Careful consideration of the matter lay with establishing whether the removal of the mature hedgerow trees was permitted.


“Conditions set down by the Environment Court included protection of the hedgerow and an undertaking from the developer to maintain and retain the hedgerow,” Mr Dobbie said.


The Queenstown Lakes District Council was satisfied that removal of the trees was in contravention of the District Plan.


“In this case we have sought a legal opinion and that opinion backs the findings of Lakes Environmental,” QLDC chief executive Duncan Field said.


The next step was for the council to require the landowner to apply for retrospective resource consent. There was no guarantee that would be granted, Mr Field said.


Lakes Environmental would also enter into further talks with the landowner.


“We intend to discuss with the landowner more broadly the general protection of the hedgerows surrounding this subdivision to give clarity to all parties to ensure no further breaches occur,” Mr Dobbie said.